News About the Academy for Equestrian Studies: This update is intended for the parents and students who are interested in attendance at the New Hampshire Equestrian Academy Charter School, planning to open September 2006. There are two charter school student applications posted online—one at the website of the NH Center for School Reform and one at the website of the NH Equestrian Academy Charter School. These applications are preliminary and allow parents and students to express interest. Thank you for taking the time to send these in. As of February 7, 2006, our office has received 19 written applications for students who would be entering grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 next year. We have also received at least 20 other requests and contacts related to attending the school next year for grades 7 – 12 and one post-graduate. The New Hampshire Equestrian Academy will be a completely new school. The first requirement is having a functioning board of trustees to make policies, set up the financial system, and hire faculty. The first board members have been determined and they are beginning meetings this month. The next issue is receipt of the department of education start-up grant that allows the board of trustees to hire staff and consultants who will put together the school. This grant has not yet been received but a call to the department of education today, February 7th, indicates that the grant has been approved and notification is in process. This means that within 2 weeks the school’s board of trustees will have insurance and can officially begin the school’s development. We are a bit behind schedule but there is still tremendous energy to open the school in the fall. Several of us involved with the school have been looking at facility options for September. This is key for opening the school (as you know). The results of our effort include identifying several options in the Rochester area, still planned as the school’s first location. We definitely want to figure out how to have an indoor arena available for the fall. Lastly, we’ve identified an experienced charter school start-up teacher who is willing to contact each family personally—first parents, and then, with parent permission, students—to gather more information about students, their prior education and equestrian backgrounds, and to answer questions about attending a start-up charter school. The first group of students and parents are truly pioneers when new schools are just starting. It can be fun and rewarding, but it’s challenging because the culture of the school is being formed during the first year. Thank you for continued interest and enthusiasm. The charter school is moving forward. Susan Hollins For more information, here are places to read: The specific link on the nhschoolreform website: http://www.nhschoolreform.org/Regional%20Project%20Pages/Lakes%20Region%20Projects.htm The website we’ve created for the school…so the charter is available and you can read section (f) about the curriculum and section (e) about the students and size of the school when it is fully enrolled.
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